Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 296: Heart

Since Huan Xuan did not come forward, and Wu Fuzhi and Huangfu Fu also remained inactive, the battle naturally did not break out.

This was not a great loss for Liu Daogui. Huan Xuan's fear of him was actually a way of proving to the world that Liu Daogui had the qualifications and strength to sit at the table and share the spoils.

Huan Xuan's true purpose was to seize power from the Sima family through a northern expedition, not to fight to the death.

Liu Daogui was merely bluffing to make Huan Xuan back down.

After a standoff lasting half a month, Huan Xuan sent people over again.

"The King of Chu requests that the Commander-in-Chief of Hefei discuss the matter of the Northern Expedition!" Even the envoy's tone became much more polite.

Liu Daogui looked at the envoy, who had a somewhat awkward scholarly air about him. His eyes were bright and his back was straight, suggesting that he also came from a humble background. The sons of the Wang, Xie, Huan, and Yu families would not do such a risky job.

In fact, those who actually get things done in the government and among the common people are corrupt officials from humble backgrounds.

This also led to a continuous stream of talented individuals emerging from humble backgrounds.

"How is the King of Chu doing in Hefei?"

The envoy paused slightly, then said meaningfully, "The King of Chu is doing well, except that he still can't forget the Commander."

This man's words were quite interesting, and Liu Daogui couldn't help but chuckle. "King Chu, you are too kind. May I ask your esteemed name?"

Huan Xuan's northern expedition was initially aimed at him.

"I dare not. My name is Hu Fan. I once served as a military advisor under General Zhenjun and Governor Yin of Jingzhou, and later joined the King of Chu."

The General in charge of the garrison was Xi Hui, and Xin Gongjing, Xiahou Zongzhi, and Yang Quanqi, who were stationed in Luoyang, were all his former subordinates.

Yin Jingzhou was Yin Zhongkan.

Both men, along with Wang Gong and Wang Xun, were confidants of Emperor Xiaowu. Later, Xi Hui was stationed in Xiangyang and served as the governor of Qinzhou, while Yin Zhongkan was stationed in Xifu and served as the governor of Jingzhou.

Due to political disagreements with Yin Zhongkan, he and his four sons were assassinated on their way back to Jiankang.

Liu Daogui had no interest in the messy affairs of Yin Zhongkan and Xi Hui. Like Wang Gong, he was a man of great ambition but little talent. In the end, Huan Xuan benefited from their infighting. "Please inform the King of Chu that I will definitely come to Hefei!"

“Governor…” Gao Xun frowned.

The other officers and soldiers in the tent were also full of surprise.

Huan Xuan has a large force gathered in Hefei. If Liu Daogui were to head south, he would be venturing deep into enemy territory and would easily be attacked from both sides.

Hu Fan also advised, "The Northern and Western Prefectures are the pillars of the nation. If they kill each other, it will only please the enemy and hurt the friend. The Commander-in-Chief takes it as his duty to drive out the barbarians and should prioritize the overall situation."

The fact that he could say these words shows that he knows everything about me and is somewhat biased towards me.

Huan Xuan's northern expedition was unpopular to begin with, and he hastily launched the campaign amidst internal instability.

It would have been fine if they had sent troops, but they stopped halfway and stationed their troops in Hefei, making a fool of themselves and failing to kill a single barbarian.

“You are overthinking this. If I don’t go, this conflict will never end. As for killing each other, we’ll have to see if the King of Chu has the guts!” Liu Daogui had a pretty good idea of ​​Huan Xuan’s thoughts.

They didn't dare to actually take action.

He's a smart man. He knows that avoiding a fight is the best way to maximize his profits. If a fight breaks out, the Western Prefecture will suffer heavy losses and won't be able to suppress all sorts of troublemakers.

Hu Fan gave Liu Daogui a deep look, then cupped his hands and said, "I will report back to the King of Chu immediately."

"I apologize for not seeing you off further," Liu Daogui said politely.

After everyone left, Gao Xun said, "Hefei is not like Shouchun. If the governor goes south, Huan Shisheng, Wu Fuzhi, and Huangfu Fu will cut off the retreat route, and the situation will be hopeless."

"If Huan Shisheng, Wu Fuzhi, and Huangfu Fu come with us, you should immediately lead your troops to launch a fierce attack on Shouchun. Don't worry about me. Take Shouchun first, and then join me in attacking the three of them from both sides. Let's see what face Huan Xuan will have left to usurp the throne."

When dealing with someone like Huan Xuan, if you take a step back, he will take three steps forward; but if you take a step forward, he will retreat.

Huan Xuan's interests lay in Jiankang and the Sima family, while Liu Daogui's interests lay in Shouchun; this was the essential difference.

Even if we take a step back and we are defeated, as long as Liu Daogui returns to Pengcheng alive, he can organize another force within ten days by relying on the Zhechong Prefecture.

If Huan Xuan loses, things will get really interesting; whether his subordinates will still be willing to obey him is another matter entirely.

“That’s a good way to break the deadlock,” Gao Xun nodded in agreement.

"It's not about breaking the deadlock, it's about winning hearts and minds!"

"Could it be that the Commander-in-Chief has another ingenious plan?"

Gao Xun had followed Liu Daogui for many years and was already used to his various wild and unconventional ideas.

"I have a brilliant plan. As long as we can bring our troops to the city gates, Huan Xuan will surely be defeated!"

Liu Daogui immediately mustered 8,000 infantry and cavalry, and led a group of fierce generals including Mao Dezhu, Liu Zun, and Wang Zhongde southward.

The rest of the troops remained at the Bagongshan camp.

Unlike Shouchun, Hefei was built by Man Chong in order to weaken the advantage of the Eastern Wu navy. He specifically built the new city 30 li away from the old city.

Subsequently, the State of Wei repelled the attacks of tens of thousands of troops from Eastern Wu three times with a small force.

In its most glorious moment, General Zhang Te, with only 3,000 remaining soldiers, managed to hold off Zhuge Ke's attack of 200,000 men.

Throughout the entire Eastern Wu dynasty, they never managed to conquer Hefei. Instead, Hefei loomed over them, making it difficult for them to breathe.

Huan Xuan's garrison here effectively neutralized the naval advantage of the Western Army.

In open field battles, the Northern Army was not afraid of the Western Army's elite troops. Moreover, Liu Daogui had two thousand elite cavalrymen under his command, who could advance and retreat freely. Behind him, Wu Fuzhi and Huangfu Fu were both infantrymen.

Liu Daogui can fight whenever he wants, and no one can stop him if he doesn't want to.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Though seemingly surrounded, the situation was actually under control.

Hefei is about 240 li away from Shouchun. Liu Daogui led his infantry and cavalry south at a leisurely pace. Each man carried a banner, and the cavalry had tree branches tied to their horses' tails. They galloped back and forth, raising clouds of dust, making it seem like there were thousands of troops.

Meng Ganzhi then led scouts to scout the surrounding area for miles.

The sound of gongs and drums never stopped. Liu Zun, leading two groups of men, shouted in turns at the top of their lungs, "By order of the King of Chu, we are heading south to pay homage!"

They headed south with such menacing intent.

Wu Fuzhi's nine thousand men followed behind, but dared not make a move. Huan Shisheng and Huangfu Fu did not follow.

Liu Daogui, on the contrary, felt it was a bit of a pity.

If they don't come, Shouchun, this fortified city, has virtually no chance.

The journey of over 240 li took nine days, proceeding cautiously and steadily, with each step less than three hours of marching. This was partly a show of force and partly a way to avoid the scorching sun and conserve energy.

Although they were certain that Huan Wen would not dare to fight, they still had to be fully prepared for a bloody battle.

The military commanders also encouraged their soldiers in this way, portraying Huan Xuan as Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo, while claiming that their own side was a loyal army.

The lower-ranking soldiers always have a sense of awe for the imperial court. Even though the Sima family has fallen to such a state, they are still the legitimate successors of Chinese civilization. Therefore, there are still some people who pity them and care about the imperial court.

The Northern Army actually had a symbiotic relationship with the Jin Dynasty. The fact that military power was dispersed among the generals of the Northern Army was not entirely a bad thing. It would not threaten the Sima family's rule and was easy to control.

Without the Northern Army, the Huan family wouldn't have waited until now.

Huan Xuan's actions were gradually severing the connection between the Northern Army and the imperial court, with only the final step remaining.

Once the final step is taken, the Northern Army will be freed from its restraints.

"General, we've arrived in Hefei!"

While he was deep in thought, Shen Qingzhi pointed ahead.

As the morning breeze gently blows, a tense city emerges amidst the rolling hills.

Man Chong built this city as a key military stronghold for the Wei Kingdom in Huainan, so the city walls were even higher than those of Pengcheng, and a layer of deer antlers was piled up beneath the city walls.

The outer perimeter of the antler-shaped structure is a moat.

To the southeast, the Western Army's camps stretched for four or five miles, like a long, winding snake.

The city and the camp were positioned in a defensive formation, making it impossible to find a starting point.

Huan Xuan also had men under his command who were well-versed in military strategy, and this move made Hefei as solid as a rock.

"Why is Hefei like a tortoise shell?" Liu Zun sighed as he looked at the city.

"Whatever it is, go up and call for the city!" Liu Daogui had also lost interest in attacking the city. Back then, even Zhuge Ke's 200,000 troops couldn't take it down, so his 8,000 infantry and cavalry were even less likely to succeed.

Liu Zun led his men forward, shouting, "General Jianwei has arrived! Where is the King of Chu?!"

Three or four hundred men, yet they shouted with the momentum of a thousand troops.

Liu Daogui ordered his soldiers to form ranks to guard against a pincer attack from the Western Army. The cavalry slowly advanced. Two thousand cavalrymen and four thousand warhorses, each holding a long spear and wearing iron armor, stood silently by the moat, their killing intent as palpable as a mountain.

The rising sun shone on the armor, making the iron gleam dazzlingly.

Whether an army is capable of fighting can be gleaned from its morale alone.

Liu Daogui's cavalry consisted of brave warriors from the north, seasoned veterans who had fought against the Xianbei and Dingling peoples for many years.

After shouting for a long time, there was no response from the city walls.

Banners bearing the names "Chu" and "Huan" fluttered atop the city walls, while the defending soldiers stared grimly at the menacing cavalry below.

Liu Daogui had no choice but to step forward himself, with Shen Qingzhi and a dozen Tiger Warriors guarding him from the side with iron shields.

"This humble general, Liu Daogui, has come to pay homage to the King of Chu."

In an instant, all the surrounding sounds fell silent.

The garrison soldiers looked at Liu Daogui with fear in their eyes, but no one answered. One of them looked familiar, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Zhao Liangzhi.

He used to be a gatekeeper in the General's Mansion, and he still owes Liu Daogui money.

The people around him were all "old acquaintances" from the Conquering Army's headquarters...

Huan Xuan led more than 10,000 Northern Army soldiers on this "Northern Expedition," and together with Huan Xiu's Conquest Army, the Northern Army had nearly 15,000 soldiers.

Huainan and Huaibei were originally the main base of the Northern Army.

Back then, the Northern Army, led by Xie Xuan and Liu Laozhi, decisively defeated the 850,000-strong Di-Qin army not far from this place.

For some reason, seeing these familiar faces gave Liu Daogui more confidence.

It was as if the Battle of Fei River was being replayed once again.

The land shapes its people, and the Western Army were ultimately outsiders...

After waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, banners, feathered canopies, axes, and armor were raised from the city wall.

These things are what are known as the Nine Bestowments.

A fat, chubby man stood behind the battlements, looking down at Liu Daogui. Beside him stood his elder brother, Liu Yu, dressed in a loose robe, carrying nothing, and remaining silent. Behind him were six or seven burly, armored soldiers.

"General Jianwei, what is the meaning of this? Are you perhaps planning a rebellion?"

"How dare I, your subordinate? The king has summoned me, how could I, your humble servant, disobey?" Liu Daogui had been traveling so slowly, he couldn't possibly not know.

"Since it's not a rebellion, hurry up and enter the city!" Huan Xuan was not old, but his face was full of fat. After putting on the imperial robes, he looked inexplicably comical.

"Your Majesty, please open the city gates!" Liu Daogui shouted, raising his arm.

The cavalry behind him roared, "Your Majesty, please open the city gates!"

It was as if a muffled thunderclap had struck before the city...

(End of this chapter)